AUBURN — The 13th annual Central Maine Heart Walk took place on Sept. 18 in Lewiston/Auburn, Rumford, Bridgton and Brunswick to benefit the life-saving research and education of the American Heart Association. The AHA’s largest event in Central Maine, this year’s event drew approximately 1,200 walkers who together raised close to $130,000.

“Funds raised at events like the Heart Walk helped save my life more than once,” said 2011 Central Maine Heart Walk chairman Paul Smith, a two-time heart attack survivor and the top fundraising walker for this event in both 2010 and 2011.

This year, Smith raised $3,924 followed by Pam Beaule of St. Mary’s Health System who raised $2,285. The top fundraising company teams were Central Maine Medical Center, who took the lead by raising $19,635, followed by TD Bank with $9,330 in donations and St. Mary’s Health System with $7,008 raised.

The Lewiston/Auburn event began with a breakfast celebration with food provided by Hannaford Supermarkets at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch in Auburn. Central Maine Medical Center provided blood pressure screenings and St. Mary’s Health System provided cholesterol screenings, and both hospitals collaborated to provide free flu shots to participants.

Ralph Cornette of Winthrop shared his story of suffering a cardiac arrest in June while attending a lecture for heart patients at CMMC led by Dr. William Phillips. “I was at a cardiac rehab dinner at CMMC and was saved by Dr. William Phillips and nurses Nicola Adams, Brenda Robitaille and Heidi Langlois — all of whom I consider my angels. Dr. Phillips started CPR while Nicola went for a portable defibrillator.”

Following the morning’s speeches, The Broad Street Band got the crowd warmed up with live dance music. Walkers then embarked on either a one- or three-mile walk along the L/A Trails Riverwalk. LifeFlight of Maine flew one of their helicopters over the Hilton Garden Inn just before the walk kicked off and then landed at Simard Payne Park. Walk participants had the opportunity to step inside the helicopter to check out the patient transport area on their way back from the walk.

In addition to the main event in Lewiston/Auburn, three satellite walks were held in Rumford, Bridgton and Brunswick.

For more information, contact the AHA’s Maine office at 800-937-0944 or visit www.heart.org/maine. To make a donation, visit the Heart Walk website at www.centralmaineheartwalk.org.